The Power of Our Thoughts

"You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and yet you have the key in your own hands, and you may use it the moment you learn to control your thoughts." ~ Napoleon Hill

Among the tens of thousands of apples grown each year, some of them contain worms. Most producers of apples do their best to try and keep this from happening, it happens none the less. Yet, many people think the worm works his way in from the outside, but it has been discovered the worm does not work its way from the outside in but comes from the inside and works its way out! When the apple blossom is on the tree, an insect comes along and lays an egg in it. Sometime later the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then begins to eat his way out. And so it is with us, most of our problems start within us. As we live, learn, and experience life around us, we ‘create’ our world with the ‘way we think’. If we happened to grow up in a negative world of low self esteem, pain, and rejection (which is more likely than not), then we will ‘think’ in the same manner. Remember, we are not what we think we are, we are what we think. Like the worm in the apple, the thoughts we think work their way from the inside to the outside.

Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character...and your character becomes your destiny. I have often quoted this saying to my students and I know I have quoted this same saying on these daily writings, but I cannot emphasize enough the power of our thoughts. James Allen said, "You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."  The process of life begins with our quality of our thoughts. EVERYTHING begins with a thought! Victory or defeat begins with a thought! Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny. Sidney Madwed said it this way..."If constructive thoughts are planted positive outcomes will be the result. Plant the seeds of failure and failure will follow." So if we are trying to bring forth a new harvest then we must first begin with the seeds or the thoughts with which we are planting in the field. Simply put, if we change the seed (thoughts / the way we think) then you will change the harvest.

"The environment you fashion out of your thoughts, your beliefs, your ideals, your philosophy is the only climate you will ever live in. The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." (Stephen R. Covey) How many times have we allowed a seed to penetrate our hearts, only later to show up in the fruit of our labor? The 'worms' of hatred, malice, envy, jealousy, fear, laziness, and self doubt are just a few of the germinated seeds of the appetites and desires of our hearts. Sidney Madwed said it like this..."Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives." You see, we truly can't get away or run away from ourselves. For at the crux of everything that is good or bad in our lives, lies the fact that long ago, there was a seed planted in our hearts. Yes, we can blame others and our circumstances, but WE were the ones who have given permission for the seed to continue to grow in our ground long enough to take root. Whether consciously or subconsciously, we accepted the thought and allowed it to nest and set up a home in our hearts. Whether it was a hurt manifested from the outside by our 'dysfunctional families' or a lusts from within...WE must take responsibility for its origin. Marcus Antonius said, "Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy soul-for the soul is dyed by the thoughts. Dye it then, with a continuous series of such thoughts as these-that where a man can live, there if he will, he can also live well."

I am a personal believer in many of the elements of 'the law of attraction'. The cliches, 'Birds of a feather flock together' holds itself true in many ways. People who are alike, go to the same places and do the same things. Why is a person who constantly discouraged and depressed always in fellowship with the same kind of people? Because happy encouraging people will not pat them on a back and have a self-pity party with them, so they are moved to the person that will give them an ear! There is no doubt the law of attraction attracts us to everything we need, according to the nature of our thought life. All that we are...our environment and financial condition are the perfect reflection of our habitual thinking. To this extent, the power of our thoughts rules the world. Norman Vincent Peale said, "The person who sends out positive thoughts activates the world around him positively and draws back to himself positive results."

Today, as you continue to replant your field, I want you to picture yourself as one that thrashes seed grain. A thrasher of grain throws the stalks and grain up into the air, the chaff is blown away, but the good seed falls back down onto the floor. I want you to take a closer look at the seed thoughts you are allowing to lay on the fertile ground of your mind. Scrutinize your thoughts closer than you have ever examined them before. Remember...your mind is the threshing floor. The unusable seeds should be discarded with the wind, and ONLY the good seed thoughts should be allowed to fall back down unto YOUR floor!